Took a 'new' walk this evening. To give kids off-road access to the village school the council has just laid a decent surface along part of the old railway line. This picture is looking north from the 'station platform' onto the old track. Its hoped that the whole route of the line - closed in the 1960s - could become part of a long distance cycle route through to Inverness.
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Walking along the newly laid track we came across this Slow Worm (Anguis fragilis). Its the first time I've seen one out in the open - usually found under compost heaps or similar places where they can forage for slugs, earthworms and soft bodied invertebrates.
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A closer view of the head of the slow worm.
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This is a new view for me. Train passengers of 40+ years ago might have seen a similar view from here. Tonight I'm on the newly laid path on the route of the old railtrack.
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We've had some good sunsets these last few evenings. I was pleased with this shot over Tralee Bay from the layby near the viewpoint south of Benderloch.
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A pair of barn owls nests on a cliff face near the village. They are quite high up so getting close-ups is difficult. This was taken hand-held with a digital camera using the equivalent of a 210mm telephoto lens. I'll try with film and a tripod sometime (perhaps...) Recently only one bird has been seen so we were wondering if anything had happened to it's mate.
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But even as we watched the second bird appeared, as if on cue. They make a lovely couple don't they?
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The way the cloud was looking tonight decided me to pop along to try for yet more sunset pictures, and I was not disappointed. The gull flying by was a bonus, though an upward wingbeat would have been nicer!
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One of the barn owls has been sitting on this ledge below the nest every time I've passed today. Its now about 9.30pm and there is a terrific sunset behind me - see above - hence the colour of the rockface.
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A close-up of the barn owl as the sun sets.
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